9 Responses

1. These sites might be useful
   You might want to have a look at some of the sites listed under the links menu of http://www.dlf.org.uk or ability net (www.abilitynet.org.uk) which provides some advice about IT and people with learning disabilities. It also has a toolkit on dyslexia.

2. don’t pigeon-hole . . .!
   All I would say is try not to pigeon-hole this thing we currently know as dyslexia. Up to 40% of the population have it to some varying degree and many cope with it without anyone knowing. There are infinite degrees of having dyslexic tendencies so you can’t answer the concern easily. The more you find out about it the better because you’ll form a broader view of it (dyslexia) in the context of what you are trying to achieve.
   Hope this view helps you

   Rick

3. Some more useful sites
   Here are some more links that may help:

   http://www.useit.com/

   http://www.cast.org/

   http://www.w3.org/WAI/

   http://www.accessibledomains.co.uk/

   Some of these are more concerned with physical disability, but may still give useful pointers.

   I’d be very interested to help with design or testing if you care to get in touch.

4. thoughts from a dyslexic
   As someone with fairly severe dyslexia which I’ve learned to cope with over the years I’d concur with the comments about assumptions. Generally however I’d suggest keeping infomation to diagrammes and formats which show concepts rather than writtain material. Many dyslexics also have difficulties with visual recall and of sequancies or routes taken which may impact on IT training e.g. locations of icons and how to get back to where they were which is worth watching out for. However once the underlying concept of what is going on us understood the delegates should be better placed.

5. teaching and dyslexia
   A very useful site is:

   http://www.esamuelson.demon.co.uk

   Alternatively, you could try contacting your local FE colleges and asking the study support people on the ECDL courses…..

   Best of luck

   Julie Butler

6. Training tip
   Generally speaking, and not specific to IT training, it is often helpful if delegates with special literacy needs have the course materials that they will use on the day sent to them before they attend.

7. gather as much information as possible
   I had a similar problem a couple of years ago _ and couldn’t much help anywhere. Then I got the best help I could have possibly got – from the delegate herself!

   I didn’t know this at the time, but different people suffer with different effects of dyslexia. So you may not be able to find one solution.

   I would contact the delegates and find out from them what helps the most, different screen layouts, background colour fonts, font sizes, paper colour, font colour, eben down to where you place the whiteboard, flipchart or PowerPoint screen!

   You may also want to consider having an assistant in the classroom , so that if delegates have any difficulties you have a helping hand.

   i have also got the following link to the British Dyslexia Association, which does have some simple, practical advice for employers, which may help.

   http://www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk/main/campaigning/doc/becoming_a_dyslexia-wise_employer.pdf

   Good luck – evrything will be fine!

8. Comic Sans font helpful in dyslexia
   See http://tinyurl.com/55e6

9. Thank You
   Thank you to all the people who have kindly responded to my posting. All the suggestions will provide useful sources of information enabling us to become more flexible in delivering our IT training. Additionally it has proven very useful in expanding our understanding of dylexia in training & development. Thanks you all again.